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Friday, 1 May 2015

Survivor of deadly disease killing people in Akure tells his story

The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), on Thursday
described the recent mysterious deaths in Ode Irele, Ondo State, as a
fallout of methanol contained in the local gin taken by the victims in
the area.

One of the survivors of the Ode-Irele methanol poisoning, Mr. Olorunwa Jero, has recounted his ordeal in the throes of death.

Jero, a father of six, who is a vulcaniser, narrated his story thus

“By the time I was brought here, I had gone
blind. I could not identify my wife, I could not identify anything. I
did not even know when I arrived here.“But I thank God and the
management and staff of University College Hospital, UCH, for bailing me
out. I can see all of you here clearly. I can even identify the clothes
each one of you is putting on.”

The victims were said to have taken the methanol while consuming a local gin.

Confirming that the toxin was detected in the blood and urine of the
victims, Professor Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, UCH, said
the five victims were transferred to the teaching hospital on April 18
adding that they had regained their lost sight as a result of taking the
chemical.
Alonge, who said this while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, warned
people to be wary of taking local gin so as to avoid similar unpleasant
experience.